Iran-Water Resources Research

Iran-Water Resources Research

Investigating the Origin and Controlling Mechanisms of the Underground Water Quality in Urmia Plain Aquifer Using Hydrogeochemical Methods and Composite Diagrams

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Ph.D. Student in Water Engineering, Department of Science and of Water Engineering, College of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
2 Professor, Department of Science and Water Engineering, College of Agriculture, Urmia University, Iran.
Abstract
Considering that a significant portion of water required for various purposes is supplied through groundwater resources in Iran, understanding the hydrogeochemical conditions and the factors influencing it as well as the concentration levels of dissolved salts and ions is of utmost importance. This study investigated the factors influencing the hydrogeochemical conditions of the Urmia aquifer in the Urmia Lake watershed. The study utilized a 15-year average of monthly hydrochemical analyses of water quality parameters up to the water year 2022-2023. Ion ratios, Gibbs and composite diagrams, and Piper and Chadha plots were employed for the analysis. Results from the ion ratios indicated that sodium ions in the Urmia aquifer have dual origins: direct and reverse ion exchange. It also showed that the Magnesium ions were derived from three sources: dolomite weathering, dolomite-limestone dissolution, and dolomite dissolution. Sulfate ions exhibited an anthropogenic origin, influenced by agricultural fertilizers and wastewater disposal. Additionally, results from ion ratios indicated that Lake Urmia and the associated saltwater intrusion had no significant impact on the groundwater quality of the studied aquifer. These findings were confirmed by Chadha diagrams. The nature of water-rock interaction reactions, as confirmed by Gibbs diagrams, was investigated in terms of direct and reverse ion exchange using the chloride alkalinity index and composite diagrams. Results showed that the reverse ion exchange dominated in the Shahrchay sub-basin, while in the other sub-basins the direct ion exchange prevailed. The presence of the Shahrchay reservoir in the Shahrchay sub-basin appears to have caused the hydrochemical behavior of groundwater to differ from other sub-basins. Geochemical modeling of the aquifer using saturation indices indicated a chemical environment conducive to the dissolution of halite, anhydrite, and gypsum (negative saturation index) and the precipitation of dolomite, calcite, and aragonite (positive saturation index). The use of Piper and Chadha diagrams revealed that calcium and magnesium bicarbonate types were the predominant water types and facies.
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  • Receive Date 13 June 2023
  • Revise Date 31 May 2024
  • Accept Date 17 June 2024